Die casting machine



April 12, 1949.

L. H. MORIN DIE CASTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 29, 1942 m R0 W N/ w A ATToRN Y ans-8n? n8 nlqurla, 5

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Patented Apr. 1 2 1949 DIE CASTING MACHINE Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N. Y.

Original application September 29, 1942, Serial Divided and this application March 25, 1944, Serial No. 528,121

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the formation of what are known as stringer lengths in the production of separable fasteners of the type employing stringers coupled and uncoupled by a slider movable along the stringers. More particularly, the invention deals with a machine for casting a successive series of scoops with means for decreasing the number of scoops cast in one series in producing predetermined stringer lengths or stringers having a predetermined number of scoops thereon. Further, the invention includes means for spacing stringer lengths on the mounting strand or tape in a continuous automatically operating machine, whereby a predetermined number of stringer lengths may be produced on a single strand or tape.

- The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a machine made according to my invention with parts of the construction broken away and in section, and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatically detailed view Of a part of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

This application constitutes a division of my prior application Ser. No. 460,067, filed September 29, 1942, now Patent No. 2,368,260 and deals with the machine or apparatus as disclosed in said prior method application.

In the formation of separable fastener stringers of the type and kind under consideration, particularly in die casting a series or multiple of scoops on a mounting member, it has been difiicult to produce stringers of the required length. For example, let us assume that four scoop: are cast in each operation of the machine. In such case, if 16 scoops were desired on the resulting stringer, 4 casting operations would sufiice to produce this stringer. I-f, however, a stringer, let us say, of 17 scoops was required, it would be necessary to cast stringers of 20 scoop lengths, and then remove 3 of the scoops.

The above objectionable features not only necessitates undue waste of time and labor, but also a waste in material and further results in the production of makeshift, partially marred stringers, involving the difiiculty of removing the cast material from the interstices of the braid of the mounting member.

The above objection is overcome by the machine or apparatus herein disclosed which employs means whereby the last series of castings in producing a predetermined stringer length may be modified to the extent of eliminating any desired portion of the series of scoops, for instance,

when casting in series of 4, to eliminate 1, 2 or 3 of the 4 scoops.

In considering the diagrammati illustration of the machine or apparatus of this application, it is well to bear in mind that an automatic die casting machine, such, for example, as that disclosed in Patent 2,244,425 of June 3, 1941, may be utilized. The spacing between the series of scoops for each stringer along the strand, tape or other mounting, so that each mounting may be subdivided to produce separate stringers, may

be obtained by utilizing, in whole or in part;

mechanism such as is shown in my prior Patents 2,224,980 of December 17, 1940, and 2,228,145 of January 7, 1941. The drawing diagrammatically illustrates a form of mechanism which may be used in carrying out my invention, though it is obvious that other forms may be used and that, if desired, some of the steps of my method could be carried out by hand.

In Fig. 1, 5 represents a die or at least the face view of one part of a die having a series of impressions or cavities -6, 1, 8 and 9 therein to form a corresponding number of scoops of a separable fastener stringer. These scoops are formed at spaced intervals along the beaded edge H] of a tape I I or other mounting member also supported between the dies of the machine.

Also formed on the parting line (plane in which dies make contact when closed) of the dies isa large gate I2 having individual branches or runners I 3, I4, l5 and I6 leading to the independent impressions or cavities 6 to 9 respectively.

Also arranged on the parting line of the die, and paralleling the bead I0 of the tape, is-a core pin II, on which the scoops are cast and by which the scoops are fed from the casting position shown at the top of Fig. 1 to the lowered position indicated .at 18, in the formation of successive series of castings. Also on the parting line of the die and extending into the gate I2, is a selecting core I9, which acts as a valve is actuated through a lever 22, in feeding the i cast series to the position l8, in which position they are held by an impression in the dies 5 conforming to the complete casting as indicated in the drawing. The core pin I I is stripped from the scoops 23 by the partial closing of the dies 5 to engage the scoops.

Obviously, any suitable Obviously, the selecting core l9 could be moved manually to close 01f as many of the runners 14, I5 and I6 as may be desired in any particular casting operation, but, preferably this core will be moved automatically. For this purpose, I have shown the selecting core l9 as mounted on a slide 24 having at its upper end a piston 25 which operates in an air cylinder 26. Air is admitted into the cylinder 26 below the piston through a port 21, and this air supply is controlled by a valve 28. In the valve 28 is a valve stem or plunger 23 carrying at its outer end a roller 30 which operates upon the links of a control chain 3 I. The valve 28 has an inlet port 32 communicating with a source of compressed air supply. In the stem 29 is a passage 33 to place the port 32 in communication with a discharge port 34 which communicates with the port 21 through a pipe or tube indicated by the line 35. The above communication is established when the roller 30 operates upon the normal links of the chain 3!. However, the stem 29 is raised by a tripping lug 36 to close the port 32 and to bring the passage 33 in communication with an exhaust port 31 to exhaust the air from the cylinder 26. A spring 38 supports the roller 39 in constant engagement with the chain 3|.

When the air is released from the cylinder 26, the piston 25 is depressed by a spring 39 to move the piston into engagement with an adjustable stop screw 40 or similar control. In. the present diagrammatic illustration, the screw 4!) is adjusted to a position to check downward movement of the piston 25 to the extent to close all of the branches or runners I4, l5 and It by the core 19, leaving the runner [3 open, so that, in the next casting operation, a single scoop 4| will be formed in the cavity 6. This means that a single scoop is added to an multiple of the series of 4 castings made in producing a given stringer length. For example, if 17 scoops are required, there will be 4 castings of the 4 series of scoops and the added single cast scoop 6|. If 1% scoops are required, then the screw 40 would be adjusted to expose the runners l3 and 14 to form scoops in the cavities 6 and I and, if 19 are required, the added runner l5 would be exposed to form a casting in the cavity 8.

At this time it is well to point out that, in forming stringer lengths, a predetermined number of stringers of one length are made to fill a predetermined order and, after the machine is once set by the adjustment of the screw it, the machine will continue to automatically produce all of the required stringers of the one predetermined or desired length. In proceeding to produce a quantity of another stringer length, suitable adjustments will be made, as will be apparent.

The control chain 3! is made of such length as to control and regulate the particular stringer to be produced and this chain will have one of the trips 36 thereon to timely actuate the valve in exhausting the air from the cylinder to allow the core H! to drop into its control position, Intermediate this tripping period, the valve is supported in position to maintain air in the cylinder, thus supporting the core 19 in raised position.

Also provided on the chain 3! are one or more other trip lugs 42, with which a lever or other control 43 operates incontrolling the Wide spacing of the tape or other mounting II, to space one stringer length from another in accordance with the teachings in the patents herein before cited. In this connection, and bearing in mind that two controls are employed on the chain 3!,

the trip 36 will be arranged at one side of the chain; whereas the trips 42 will be arranged at the other side thereof, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

It will, of course, be apparent that the present diagrammatic illustration is simply to indicate one adaptation of the invention, as the scoops may be cast in any desired multiple, that is to say, two or more. While one type or form of scoop is shown, this again is simply to illustrate one adaptation of the invention.

Considering my present invention generally, it may be said to comprise a machine or apparatus, wherein a plurality or series of castings are formed normally in each casting operation of the machine and these series of castings are repeated in a controlled series of casting operations and then, in one casting operation, only a part of the series of castings is formed, particularly when all of the castings in one cycle will not make up the required number of castings in what might be termed a group of castings. The finalcasting operation of the machine reduces the number of castings formed to make up the exact number of castings required in a group.

From this standpoint, it will be apparent that, in the art of producing die castings, it will be possible to control group formation of castings for any desired purpose, that is to say, for boxing, sorting and the like. Here again it is also to be borne in mind that it is not essential that the castings be formed on a mounting member and, in other instances, the mounting member, if employed, may simply constitute a means for supporting or retaining each group of castings in a coupled or united relationship.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for producing a predetermined number of die cast devices on a mounting member, comprising a pair of dies having a plurality of cavities spaced longitudinally of the parting line of said dies, recesses on the adjacent surfaces of the dies for receiving and supporting the mounting member so that it passes through all of the cavities in said dies said dies having a gate passage with an admission port opening through one side of the dies, said dies having on adjacent surfaces thereof runners communicating with said gate passage and each of the die cavities, and means movable longitudinally of the parting line of the dies for controlling communication between the gate passage and said runners to govern the number of castings formed in the cavities of said dies.

2. A machine for producing a predetermined number of die cast devices on a mounting member, comprising a pair of dies having a plurality of cavities spaced longitudinally of the parting line of said dies, recesses on the adjacent surfaces of the dies for receiving and supporting the mounting member so that it passes through all of the cavities in said dies said dies having a gate passage with an admission port opening through one side of the dies, said dies having on adjacent surfaces thereof runners communicating with said gate passage and each of the die cavities, means movable longitudinally of the parting line of the dies for controlling ocmmunication between the gate passage and said runners to govern the number of castings formed in the cavities of said dies, and adjustable means for controlling the position of said last named means in the dies in regulating the number of cavities of the dies exposed in a casting operation of the machine.

3. In die casting machines, a pair of dies having a plurality of cavities spaced longitudinally thereof, recesses on the adjacent surfaces of the dies for receiving and supporting a mounting member so that it passes through all of the cavities in said dies, means including a gate having runners directed to each cavity of the die for forming a group of castings simultaneously on said mounting member, the group being defined by the number of cavities in communication with said gate, actuating means for controlling the spacing of said mounting member after a predetermined number of groups of castings have been cast longitudinally on the mounting member in a successive series of casting operations, means for moving the group of castings and the mounting member relatively to the dies intermittent each casting operation, and a second actuating means for controlling the runners exposed to each cavity of the die and for shutting ofi one or more of said cavities in one casting operation of the machine to add to a series of groups of castings a number of castings less than the total number of castings defined by each group.

4. In die casting machines, a pair of dies having a plurality of cavities spaced longitudinally thereof, recesses on the adjacent surfaces of the dies for receiving and supporting a mounting member so that it passes through all of the cavities in said dies, means including a gate having runners directed to each cavity of the die for forming a group of castings simultaneously on said mounting member, the group being defined by the number of cavities in communication with said gate, actuating means for controlling the spacing of said mounting member after a predetermined number of groups of castings have been cast longitudinally on the mounting member in a successive series of casting operations, means for moving the group of castings and the mounting member relatively to the dies intermittent each casting operation, a second actuating means for controlling the runners exposed to each cavity of the die and for shutting off one or more of said cavities in one casting operation of the machine to add to a series of groups of castings a number of castings less than the total number of castings defined by each group, said last named means comprising a plunger movable relatively to the dies, and adjustable means cooperating with the plunger to regulate the degree of movement thereof in controlling the number of runners exposed to the gate of said dies.

5. In die casting machines, a pair of dies having a plurality of cavities spaced longitudinally thereof, recesses on the adjacent surfaces of the dies for receiving and supporting a mounting member so that it passes through all of the cavities in said dies, means including a gate having runners directed to each cavity of the die for forming a group of castings simultaneously on said mounting member, the group being defined by the number of cavities in communication with said gate, actuating means for controlling the spacing of said mounting member after a predetermined number of groups of castings have been cast longitudinally on the mounting member in a succes sive series of casting operations, means for moving the group of castings and the mounting member relatively to the dies intermittent each casting operation, a second actuating means for controlling the runners exposed to each cavity of the die and for shutting off one or more of said cavities in one casting operation of the machine to add to a series 'of groups of castings a number of castings less than the total number of castings defined by each group, said last named means comprising a plunger movable relatively to the dies, adjustable means cooperating with the plunger to regulate the degree of movement thereof in controlling the number of runners exposed to the gate of said :dies, and said dies including a plurality of impressions equal to the number of cavities in the die and spaced therefrom to receive a group of castings and to space one group of castings with respect to the next successive group of castings on said mounting member.

6. In die casting machines, a pair of dies having a plurality of cavities spaced longitudinally thereof, recesses on the adjacent surfaces of the dies for receiving and supporting a mounting member so that it passes through all of the cavities in said dies, means including a, gate having runners directed to each cavity of the die for forming a group of castings simultaneously on said mounting member, the group being defined by the number of cavities in communication with said gate, actuating means for controlling the spacing of said mounting member after a predetermined number of groups of castings have been cast longitudinally on the mountmg member in a successive series of casting operations, means for moving the group of castings and the mounting member relatively to the dies intermittent each casting operation, a second actuating means for controlling the runners exposed to each cavity of the die and for shutting ofi one or more of said cavities in one casting operation of the machine to add to a series of groups of castings a number of castings less than the total number of castings defined by each group, said last named means comprising a plunger movable relatively to the dies, adjustable means cooperating with the plunger to regulate the degree of movement thereof in controlling the number of runners exposed to the gate of said dies, said dies including a plurality of impressions equal to the number of cavities in the die and spaced therefrom to receive a group of castings and to space one group of castings with respect to the next successive group of castings on said mounting member, a core pin exposed to all of the cavities of said dies, and said core pin being utilized to feed the group of castings to said impressions preparatory to stripping the core pin from the castings and returning said pin to receive the next group of castings formed on said member.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,141,218 Sparks June 15, 1915 2,282,308 Dahlin May 12, 1942 2,297,070 Poux Sept. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 361,092 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1931 697,034 Germany Oct. 4, 1940 

